Back in April 2016, Elon Musk encouraged Indian customers to pre-order the forthcoming Tesla Model 3. Vishal Gondal, founder and chief executive of health-tech startup GOQii based in Mumbai, was one of the first to respond, placing a $1,000 deposit for a car that never materialised. Gondal, an avid fan of Elon Musk, was thrilled about the Model 3 and prepared to wait, despite not knowing when Tesla would launch in India or the final cost of the vehicle.
In the eight years since Tesla's initial pledge to sell cars in India, other car manufacturers have introduced their own electric vehicles (EVs). However, the American automaker has yet to deliver, seemingly due to concerns over high taxes making the cars too costly in India, coupled with the challenges of establishing an Indian factory if production were to be moved from China. After six years without a Tesla or any clear explanation regarding the company's plans for India, Gondal purchased an electric SUV from German automaker Audi.
He managed to get his $1,000 back in January 2023 with assistance from a friend who located a Tesla sales manager in India. India is the world's third-largest auto market, following China and the United States. However, it's distinct.
The average price of cars sold in India in 2023 was $14,000, compared to $47,000 in the United States. A new Tesla 3 can be bought by an American for around $40,000. In India, this is considered a luxury car price, and buyers would expect top-notch after-sales servi.